Post-office hand-stamp



(No Mode1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. J. BROOKS. POST OFFICE HAND STAMP.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-snm 2. E. J. BROOKS. POST OFFICE HAND STAMP.

No. 596,932. y Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

EDW'ARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

POST-OFFICE HAN D-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,932, dated January 4, 1898.

Application filed November 29, 1897. Serial No. 660,138. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful linprovement in Post-0nce Hand-Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, primarily, to postmarking-stamps and to means for insuring distinct impressions without the aid of elastic pads to underlie the mail-1natter and facilitate the accommodation of the stamp to the surface beneath; and its objects are to render such stamps, by improved means, elastic in themselves, and thus to render them coinparatively noiseless and to reduce the strain on the operator due to their prolonged use, and, lastly, to provide for permanent lettering and lines that shall be conveniently and economically .formed of aluminium and of greater depth than is customary, so as to be practicably free from becoming clogged.

The invention consists in an improved handstamp and in certain novel combinations of parts and features of construction embodied therein, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Figure l of the drawings is an elevation of a hand-stamp embodying all the several features. of this invention and shows some of the parts in two positions by full and dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end view projected from Fig. l, showing the face of the die. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same stamp. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 a, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modiiied hand-stamp representing another species of the same invention. Fig. 6 is a face view projected from Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are side and face views of another form of die. Figs. 9 and l0 are side and face views of another modified die. Fig. 11 shows another style of die-face. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the elastic shank part shown in Figs. l, 3, and 5 detached; and Figs. 13 and la are elevations of inodied shank parts.

Like letters and numbers refer to like parts in all the iigures.

In all the several species represented by the drawings the improved hand-stamp comprises a handle A, a die B, and an interposed connecting device whereby the die is rendered angularly movable relatively to the handle, so as to accommodate itself to an uneven surface underlying the piece of niail-matter or .inclosures of uneven thickness within the envelop or Wrapper, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, and thus to insure complete and legible postmarks and distinct canceling impressions. The handle A in all cases is preferably and conveniently rigid, an ordinary ferruled wooden handle being represented. The die B, which carries the lettering and lines of the stamp, and said connecting device, inten posed between the die B and the handle A, admit of variations and will be described in connection with the respectivespecies.

The postmarking hand-stamp represented by Figs. l to 4, inclusive, in connection with Fig. l2, is composed of a rigid handle A, as above specified, a round die B', hereinafter more particularly described7 a one-part socke et-piece or socket O, undercut internally, as shown in Fig. 3, and rigidly attached to the handle A by a tang 2l, Fig. 3, a matching socket C2, formed on the die B, and an elastic connecting device D, (shown detached by Fig. 12,) having relatively large elastic bulbs 22 at its ends, which are sprung into the sockets C and O2, and a flexible elastic shank 23, Figl,

connecting said bulbs, the whole being preferably and conveniently molded in one piece of rubber such as is used for springs.

The bulbs 22 and shank are round in cross section and concentric, so that the former when sprung into place shall aord uniform and ample lateral support on all sides adapted to resist the severe angular strains to which the stamp is subjected by heavyhanded users, while the relatively small central shank weakens the connecting device where such weakening serves to permit the die to turn quickly when it strikes the mailmatter at any angle, large or small, so as to present its entire face and insure a complete and legible impression. The sockets C and C2 are conformed internally to the bulbs 22 and are concentric with the handle A and die B, and the bulbs are sprung into them by compressing the bulbs into approximately cylindrical shape and then instantaneously inserting` and releasing them. lhe device composed of said sockets C and C2 and elastic con.- necting device D serves not only to adapt the die to accommodate itself to its Work, as above, but also to render the rigid die yielding or to cushion it to reduce the noise of stamping mail and to lessen the nervous strain on the operator due to the prolonged use of the stamp.

The body of the die B (shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4) is mainly of iron or steel, including said socket C2, and is hereinafter referred to as of iron, steel being unnecessary. It is constructed with a recess 24, corresponding With those portions of its face, Fig. 2, to be provided With permanent lettering, and a filling 25, of aluminium, is cast fast within said recess and projects at said face to form said lettering, With which it may be provided in any approved Way. As the space for permanent lettering of this specific stamp is annular, said recess 24 is annular in the species and is sunk in the face of the die to a suficient depth. ted at the casting operation by holes 2C, Figs. 3 and 4, between Which there is sufficient thickness of metal for strength, said holes leading from an annular gutter 27, which is formed Within the socket O2 and is covered by the shank part D in the completed handstamp. The aluminium within the holes 26 and gutter 27 securely anchors the filling 25 in place, so as to preclude anyloosenin g thereof by the strains to which it is subjected. The customary border-line 2S, Figs. 2 and 3, is conveniently formed on said body of the die, but may, if preferred, beformed on the aluminium :filling 25. A central type-holding cavity 29 and a clamping-screw 30 provide in a customary manner for the changeable lettering or dates.

The modiiied hand-stamp represented by Figs. 5 and 6 is or may be identical with the species above described, excepting its round die B, which is adapted for simultaneously postmarking and canceling. It is provided with an annular recess 24 and analuminium lling 25, projecting therefrom and surrounding the cavity 29 for movable type similar to those above described, except that the filling is provided with the border-line 28 and is poured through holes 26,(one or more,) extending to the recess 24 from a gutter 27 in the back of the die. In addition thereto it is provided With av group of canceling-lines 3l, inclosing a stamp-number 4, Fig. 6, of aluminium, formed on a block cast fast Within a recess in the die and projecting therefrom like the filling 25.

Other combined postmarking and canceling arrangements are represented by Figs. 7 to ll, inclusive, and in all these species, including the one represented by said Figs. 5 and 6, the socket O2 is conveniently and preferably formed as a recess Within the top of the die B. In Figs. 7 and S the respective aluminium fillings 25 and 3l are formed as in Figs. 5 and 6, being simply conformed to an oblong angular die. In Figs. 9 and l0 another angular die B is provided with two cancelingline llin gs 3l, of aluminium, cast fast within The fiuid aluminium is admit' recesses 32 in the face of they die at its respective ends and poured through a gutter 27 Within the socket Oe and holes 2G, connecting said gutter and recesses, the permanent lettering 33 being` formed on the face of the body of the die above a type-holding cavity 29 for dates.

The die B, Fig. 11, may be identical with the form shown in Figs. 9 and l0, save that its face is covered by a canceling-line lling 31, of aluminium, cast fast Within a recess 32, excepting a central longitudinal type-holding cavity 29 for changeable lettering, including the ohice name.

Other styles of dies may be constructed and attached in like manner according to the present invention, and apart from the die each of these stamps may be of the construction hereinbefore specified with reference to Figs. l to 4, inclusive, and Fig. l2. v

Instead of making the connecting device D all of rubber, `as in above figures, it may be f made with elastic bulbs Fig. 13, of rubber,

molded upon the sides of a spiral spring 23, forming the flexible or flexible and elastic shank, the ends of the coil being expanded, as shown at 34,y to preclude their Withdrawal from the bulbs, or the shankk part D may be made wholly of Wire, as shown by Fig. 14. Any metal adapted to be advantageously used in like manner may be substituted for aluminium. Other elastic substances may be used in place of rubber, and other like additional modiications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described said improvement, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specificationl. A hand-stamp composed of a rigid handle having an undercut socket, a rigid die, a matching socket formed on the die, and a connectin g device having elastic bulbs at its ends which are sprung into said sockets, and a central flexible shank of reduced diameter connecting said bulbs, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. In a hand-stamp, an elastic connecting device having holding-bulbs at its ends and a shank proper of reduced diameter With Which said bulbs are concentric, in combination With a rigid handle and a rigid die, provided with sockets into which said bulbs are tightly sprung.

3. The combination with a rigid handle and a die, provided with undercut sockets opposing each other, of an elastic connecting device having a iiexible and elastic shank, and at its extremities a pair of relatively large concentric bulbs expanded Within said sockets.

4. In a post-office hand-stamp, an iron die having a cavity for movable type, an annular recess in its face surrounding said cavity, an annular gutter at the back of the die, holes connecting said gutter and recess, and a lling of aluminium cast fast Within said recess, projecting at said face, and provided With the permanent lettering of the die.

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5. In a post-office hand-stamp, an iron die tic-shank part having a bulb expanded Withhzwing a recess corresponding with those porin said socket, substantially as hereinbefoi'e Io Lions of its face to be provided with permaspecied. nent lettering or lines, an undercut socket at y T 5 the back of the die,a gutter Within said socket, EDVARD J BROOKS' holes connecting said gutter and recess, a vWitnesses: filling of aluminium cast fast within said re- 'THOMAS TIERNEY, cess and projecting at said face, end an elas- GEO. J. MENK. 

